“Though I hadn't had a stroke like Uncle Yuri, it was still difficult for me to express what was in my heart. I wanted to tell her that I loved her, that she was the most important person in the world to me, that I was truly sorry for having lied to her about Liberty. Instead, I asked her what she wanted for dinner.”

“But in my defense, I knew enough about her to know I wanted to know everything else; I knew as much about her as she wanted me to know; I knew as much about her as anyone ever knows about anyone. And isn't love just curiosity at the beginning anyway?”

“Why are you here?" I asked him."That's an awfully big question, Anya.""No, I meant here outside this office. What did you do wrong?""Multiple choice," he said. "(a) A few pointed comments I made in Theology. (b) Headmaster wants to have a chat with the new kid about wearing hats in school. (c) My schedule. I'm just too darn smart for my classes. (d) My eyewitness account of the girl who poured lasagna over her boyfriend's head. (e.) Headmaster's leaving her husband and wants to run away with me. (f) None of the above. (g) All of the above.""Ex-boyfriend," I mumbled."Good to know," he said.”

“What were you like," I asked her. "we're you happy? Or were you smiling because they told you to?”

“Did you have a good time with Win?" Natty asked."I'll tell you about it tomorrow." I lowered my voice. "He's still here.""Annie!" Her eyes grew wide and delighted.'It's a long story and probably a lot less exciting than the one I suspect you're concocting, Natty. He's only using our couch.”

“Give Win back his hat," I told Natty."It looks good on me," she said, batting her eyelashes.I took it off her head and handed it to Win. "Thanks for babysitting," I said."Stop infantilizing me," Natty protested."That's a very good word," Win commented."Thank you," Natty replied. "I happen to know lots of them.”

“Liz, I like you very much," he says. "Oh," she says, "I like you very much, too!"Owen is not sure if she means "O" for Owen, or just plan "Oh." He is not sure what difference it would make in either case. He feels the needs to clarify. "When I said 'I like you very much,' I actually meant 'I love you.'" "O," she says, "I actually meant the same thing." She closes the car door behind her."Well," he says to himself, driving back to his apartment, "isn't that something?”